LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., August, 28, 2013 – Recent research from Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), shows work-related factors play a significant role in employees’ stress levels. As a result, a growing number of employers are taking steps to help employees reduce their stress. However, Aon Hewitt’s research shows most programs are not being utilized to their full advantage.

According to Aon Hewitt’s 2013 Consumer Health Mindset report, which surveyed more than 2,800 employees and their dependents, almost half said their stress level was high or overwhelming. When asked the reasons for their stress, the top four out of five reasons cited were work-related.  

Most Commonly Cited Stress Factors

To help mitigate employee stress levels, the number of employers offering stress management programs has grown in recent years. Aon Hewitt’s recent Health Care Survey of 800 large and mid-size U.S. employers covering more than 7 million employees found that 35 percent of employers offered stress reduction programs in 2013, up from 22 percent in 2010. However, just 3 percent of employees said they participated in an employer-sponsored stress management program in 2013. Nearly one-fourth said they did not believe their employer offers any programs or services to deal with stress.

“Employees are increasingly feeling stressed by work-related pressures, and this can often be destructive to health, productivity and performance,” said Kathleen Mahieu, leader of behavioral health consulting at Aon Hewitt. “Employers recognize the impact that high stress levels are having on their workforces and are implementing programs to help employees recognize stress, reframe it in more positive ways and focus on what they can control. Unfortunately, most stress management programs in the workplace today aren’t being implemented in a way that’s effective.”

The business impact of workplace stress has been well documented in various research reports:

• Fifty-one percent of employees said they were less productive at work as a result of stress[1].

•    Health care expenses were nearly 50 percent higher for workers who reported high levels of stress[2].
•    More than half of the 550 million working days lost each year because of absenteeism were stress-related[3].

“In our experience, it is not unusual to have co-morbid situations with stress and other behavior health issues occurring subsequent to the initial absence diagnosis,” noted Cindy Keaveney head of Aon Hewitt’s Absence Management practice. “This situation can negatively affect an employee’s timely return to work.  In addition, workforce productivity can be impacted by employees who are not absent from work, yet are not fully productive due to stress or other behavioral health conditions.”

High stress levels also lead to employees’ inability to achieve their health goals which can negate employers’ efforts to improve the overall health and well-being of their workforce. Recent industry research shows that highly stressed people are 30 percent less likely to eat healthily, 25 percent less likely to exercise and 200 percent more likely to fail weight loss programs. These employees also get half as much sleep as people reporting low levels of stress[4].

Designing an Effective Approach to Stress

Aon Hewitt suggests employers concentrate on three areas to improve the emotional well-being and mental health within the workforce.  

1) Investigate the Causes of Stress and Potential Solutions

Employers need to consider both internal and external elements in analyzing stress. Factors outside the workplace such as family strains and factors in the workplace such as long work hours can also contribute to high stress levels in the workplace. By gathering feedback through focus groups and employee surveys, employers can gain a better understanding of the triggers within their employee populations and develop new strategies for reducing workplace stress.

2) Encourage Employees to Take Advantage of Stress Reduction Resources

Employers should make a deliberate effort to show support for stress management initiatives in the workplace by encouraging employees to participate in stress management training programs and physical activity during the workday. This may include scheduling a work space clean-up day, “bring your pet to work” day, or relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and meditation to help employees better manage stress in the work environment and beyond.

Employers should also encourage employees to use existing resources such as Employee Assistance Program and Work Life services, and engage on-site wellness coaches to assist in relieving the stress associated with daily challenges and life events.

3) Promote Emotional Well-Being

Employers should encourage employees to take vacation time and offer flexible work schedules in as many roles as possible. Aon Hewitt’s data shows only 35 percent of employees say their employer encourages them to take vacation time, and only one-fourth say their employer encourages flexible work arrangements.[5]

Organizations can also sponsor and support activities that promote camaraderie among employees and get people moving. These activities may include community walk and run events, company sports teams, volunteering within the community and encouraging healthy group lunch get-togethers. 

Employers should also develop approaches that build and promote resiliency as a way to encourage healthy coping skills in the face of life’s challenges, such as communication and problem-solving skills.

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About Aon Hewitt

Aon Hewitt empowers organizations and individuals to secure a better future through innovative talent, retirement and health solutions. We advise, design and execute a wide range of solutions that enable clients to cultivate talent to drive organizational and personal performance and growth, navigate retirement risk while providing new levels of financial security, and redefine health solutions for greater choice, affordability and wellness.  Aon Hewitt is the global leader in human resource solutions, with over 30,000 professionals in 90 countries serving more than 20,000 clients worldwide.  For more information on Aon Hewitt, please visit www.aonhewitt.com.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE:AON) is the leading global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human resources solutions and outsourcing services. Through its more than 65,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon unites to empower results for clients in over 120 countries via innovative and effective risk and people solutions and through industry-leading global resources and technical expertise. Aon has been named repeatedly as the world’s best broker, best insurance intermediary, reinsurance intermediary, captives manager and best employee benefits consulting firm by multiple industry sources. Visit www.aon.com for more information on Aon and www.aon.com/manchesterunited to learn about Aon’s global partnership and shirt sponsorship with Manchester United